Final touches: leader Demi Vollering sprints to win in Setmana Valenciana finale
Double celebration for Demi Vollering. The European champion not only won the overall classification of the Setmana Valenciana on Sunday but also took the victory in the final stage. She was the fastest in a leading group of five.
What kind of stage was on the program?
After Saturday’s stage was canceled due to strong wind gusts, conditions on Sunday were good enough to race. The stage between Sagunto and Valencia covered 117 kilometers and featured over 1,000 meters of climbing. The main climb of the day was L'Oronet (5.4 km at 4.9%) located 30 kilometers from the finish, but after that it was mostly descending and flat towards the line.
Who was in the breakaway of the day?
Maike van der Duin (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) and Malou Eisen (VolkerWessels) provided Dutch representation in the day’s leading group. Alongside Carina Schrempf (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Émilie Morier (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93), they gained more than three minutes on the peloton. Lidl-Trek was controlling the peloton at the front with some assistance from Human Powered Health.
Anything notable on L'Oronet?
Many eyes were on Elisa Balsamo, who had yet to win this week at the Setmana Valenciana. With her team Lidl-Trek, she missed a crucial corner in the second stage and didn’t get the chance to sprint. From the foot of the L'Oronet climb, however, FDJ United-SUEZ set a high pace that shattered the peloton. Demi Vollering accelerated herself, leaving only about ten riders on her wheel, after which UAE Team ADQ took over at the front.
This sparked an attack from Maeva Squiban just below the summit. Vollering immediately followed and then launched her own attack, with only Antonia Niedermaier in pursuit. She aimed to drop Niedermaier as well, but the climb wasn’t steep enough. The two then rode the last 30 kilometers together towards Valencia. During this phase, Niedermaier was able to keep up with Vollering.
How did the finale unfold?
Behind Vollering and Niedermaier, a group formed including Squiban, Liane Lippert, and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad. At fifteen kilometers from the finish, this trio rejoined the two leaders. So the final sprint featured five riders, but the reduced peloton kept pressing. Visma | Lease a Bike, EF Education-Oatly, and Human Powered Health worked hard at the front trying to set up a sprint finish.
However, they were too late. No bunch sprint, but rather a sprint from the group of five.
Was Demi Vollering’s leader’s jersey ever in danger?
No. With a 56-second lead over Maeva Squiban and 58 seconds on Viktoria Chladanova, Vollering started the final stage comfortably in front. On the only climb, the FDJ United-SUEZ leader took the initiative herself and was never in trouble, securing the overall win. Vollering also won the Setmana Valenciana last year.
